Health

ATLANTA -- Fulton County comprises 10 percent of Georgia’s population and accounts for 54 percent of the state’s AIDS cases.

In recognition of World AIDS Day on December 1, 2012, starting November 27, both health agencies will sponsor events to encourage residents to take control and get tested in a world-wide effort to reach “ZERO New Infections, ZERO Discrimination and ZERO AIDS Related Deaths. The County has partnered with DeKalb County to provide similar services in order to have the greatest impact on reducing new HIV infections.

ATLANTA -- Piccadilly Restaurants has brought back its annual Paper Sneaker Sales Program to raise money to combat juvenile diabetes.

Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 10, Piccadilly customers will have the option of purchasing a paper sneaker for $1. Money raised from the sneaker campaign will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

"Supporting our communities' well-being is one of the core principles of Piccadilly Restaurants," Piccadilly CEO Tom Sandeman said in a statement. "This is certainly a cause that is close to our hearts. We are extremely proud to take part in the sneaker program that has helped us raise over $129,000 to aid in the fight against juvenile diabetes."

ATLANTA -- Several Sam's Club Pharmacy locations throughout metro Atlanta will offer free diabetes and vision screenings this weekend.

The screenings will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and are valued at more than $150. They include glucose, A1C, vision, blood pressure and BMI tests.

"Knowing the links between risk factors, choices and solutions prepares our members to better manage or even prevent diabetes," Sam's Club Health and Wellness senior VP Jill Turner-Mitchael said in a statement.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say about 1.9 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed every year. If this trend continues, one out of every three U.S. adults will have diabetes by 2050.

Diabetes is also the leading cause of new cases of blindness in U.S. adults, according to the CDC.

Summer in the south is officially here! With rising temperatures, it is important to take steps to protect those around us who might be vulnerable to the heat, like our children and pets.

Did you know that we lose heat by sweating? Water literally evaporates into the atmosphere and sucks the heat out of our bodies. Children produce even more heat than adults. This is because they have more body surface for their height. Children are also closer to the ground – and to hot pavement. They can easily become dehydrated or overheated.

ATLANTA -- Summer is officially here. Are you protecting your skin from the sun? Do you know what SPF (sun protection factor) to use? We spoke with Piedmont dermatologist Jodi Ganz, M.D., to find out what those SPF numbers really mean.

“The SPF number means it would take you that much longer to burn than you normally would without sunscreen,” says Dr. Ganz. “If it takes you 10 minutes to burn, then using an SPF5 means it would take you five times longer, or 50 minutes, to burn. An SPF10 means you could stay in the sun 10 times longer, or 100 minutes.”

But Dr. Ganz cautions that most sunscreens “break down” on average in two hours, meaning they lose their ability to protect you. So, you must reapply sunscreen every two hours.

ATLANTA -- The race is on! The Peachtree Road Race returns to Atlanta Wednesday, July 4. If you are one of the 60,000 who will be participating, are you ready?

Plenty of seasoned runners lace up for this 10K (6.2 mile) event, but it appeals to athletes of all fitness levels. We consulted with Jennifer Hopper, manager of the Piedmont Hospital Health and Fitness Club, to compile our top five tips to make the most of your experience if you are a beginner or intermediate runner planning to participate in the race.

The official start of the hurricane season is Friday. Whether it's severe weather, fire, a lengthy power outage, evacuation, would you know what to do in any type of emergency?

To stay safe in an emergency, it is crucial to have a solid communication plan in place for you and your family. Read more from HealthWatchMD, powered by Piedmont, for our top tips for communicating in an emergency.